Sonny Gray's fiery Yankees' rant at Red Sox presser reminds Reds what they're missing

Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Sonny Gray was recently traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Boston Red Sox. Gray had been on the Reds' radar the past few seasons — even after signing a three-year deal with the Cardinals in 2023 — but a reunion this offseason was never in the cards, in part due to the massive $35 million salary he's owed for the upcoming 2026 season.

But Gray has always been a fan-favorite in Cincinati. The right-hander was traded to the Reds back in 2019 after he fell out of favor with the New York Yankees. Gray started 68 games for the Reds over his three years in the Queen City and owned a 3.49 ERA before being dealt to the Minnesota Twins prior to the 2022 season.

Gray was introduced to the Boston media at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, and when asked about the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, gave a very frank answer. Gray admitted that he never wanted to be traded to New York back in 2017 and said, “It’s easy to go to a place now where it’s easy to hate the Yankees.”

Sonny Gray just reminded Reds fans what they're missing from their clubhouse

Gray's comments are sure to inject some juice into the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, but his words are a reminder to Reds fans about what Cincinnati's clubhouse was missing in 2025. While Terry Francona helped guide the Reds back to the playoffs for the first time in a 162-game season since 2013, the team lacked a fiery leader; both on the field and in the clubhouse.

Gray was beloved by his teammates during his tenure in Cincinnati, but he was also respected. He was straight-shooter, never backed down from a confrontation, and was as fiery as anyone on the team. Most Reds fans will remember that Gray, Nick Castellanos, Kyle Farmer, and an exuberant young rookie named Jonathan India helped energize the dugout and the crowd on a nightly basis during the 2021 season.

The Reds don't have that type of player on the roster — at least not yet. Sure, you could make an argument for Graham Ashcraft, and both Nick Martinez and Emilio Pagán may have qualified as the vocal leaders on last year's team.

But as you look around the Reds clubhouse at the moment, the team's best players approach the game with a very workman-like demeanor. The trio of Andrew Abbott, Hunter Greene, and Nick Lodolo typically put their heads down and go to work. Elly De La Cruz is one of the more humble stars you'll find in Major League Baseball, and Tyler Stephenson has always been somewhat reserved.

That's not to demean those players — no fan should want them to be something they're not. But while the Reds are scouring the free agent and trade markets this offseason, perhaps they need to find someone like Gray with that bulldog-type of mentality. A player who's unafraid to sling mud and fight alongside his teammates in the trenches.

There's a chance that Sal Stewart is that guy. But it's difficult to ask a rookie to be a leader. Regardless of who it is, with Pagán and Martinez no longer on the team, and Ashcraft isolated to the bullpen, Cincinnati needs to find a veteran voice who can help rally the troops and inspire this young team to new heights in 2026.